Public Domain
Chemical Inspiration
1921 · International News Service
A chemist uses ink poured into water; the water is filmed upside down, and an artist uses the swirling shapes as the basis of fanciful drawings.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film 'Chemical Inspiration' was released in 1921 as part of the 'Adventures of a News Scamp' series by the International News Service (distributed by Hearst/Universal). The production was an American short film.
Under the United States Copyright Act, all works published or registered before January 1, 1928, have entered the public domain due to the expiration of the maximum possible copyright term (95 years from publication). There is no requirement to search for a copyright renewal or registration for films from 1921, as the statutory expiration for works of this year occurred no later than December 31, 2016.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- U.S. Copyright Office, 17 U.S.C. § 304
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films (Reference for period)
- Hurst, Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1894-1939)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.